Clamping devices

ABSTRACT

A HOOP-LIKE CLAMPING DEVICE ESPECIALLY USEFUL FOR CLAMPING TOGETHER ARTICLES OF CLOTHING DURING THE LAUNDERING THEREOF.

Sept. 2-1, 1971 R GOODMAN 3,606,651

CLAMPING DEVICES Filed May 8, 1969 INVENTOR ROBERT H. GOODMAN BY w ATTORNEYS United states Patent 3,606,651 CLAMPIN G DEVICES Robert H. Goodman, 4654 Parkside Drive, Wauwatosa, Wis. 53226 Filed May 8, 1969, Ser. No. 823,083 Int. Cl. A44]: 21/00 US. Cl. 24255BS 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hoop-like clamping device especially useful for clamping together articles of clothing during the laundering thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in clamping devices, and more particularly, to a clamping device for retaining articles of clothing, or the like, adjacent to one another, during the laundering and drying operation.

It is manifest to anyone familiar with the art, that quite frequently it is advantageous, and sometimes necessary for the housewife to retain articles, such as socks, or the like, in pairs, while performing the family washing, and it is the prime object of my invention to provide a device that will support two or more objects, and prevent them from becoming separated during the agitation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described, that is easy to apply, and may be constructed in a manner to retain its position during the washing and drying agitated action.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device that may be constructed of any type of material that will not be affected by the heat applied during the operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device that may be applied with ease, while sorting the objects that are being laundered.

A still further object of my invention is to construct a device that will retain the parts without them being separated.

The device is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, yet highly eflicient for the purpose intended.

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device in operation position, showing the parts being retained thereby in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the device provided with pointed prongs extending inwardly, to prevent the parts being held adjacent to one another from sliding outward therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a similar view as shown in FIG. 2, with cylindrical balls instead of prongs;

FIG. 4 is another similar view as shown in FIG. 2 provided with lateral plates radially disposed, to prevent the tearing of the material being supported;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the device as shown in FIG. 2, taken at the line 5--5 therein;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the device as shown in FIG. 3, taken at the line 66 therein;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 4 taken at the line 7-7 therein;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a modified form of unit constructed of pliable material radially formed, to permit expansion of the unit when material is forced therein;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, taken at the line 10-10 in FIG. 8.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts and features throughout the several views, and referring to the same the character 20 represents the body of the device shown in a hoop-like circular form, and radial in cross-section. Obviously the device may be constructed of plastic, or metal, or any other material that would not be affected by the temperature changes during the laundering operation, and may be shaped to any form or contour.

The inner radial surface of the body 20, is shown equipped with inwardly projecting members, such as the prongs 21 in FIG. 2, prongs with round members 22, shown in FIG. 3, or laterally disposed radial plates 23 as shown in FIG. 4. The number of inwardly projecting members may vary, their purpose being to retain the articles being supported, which are shown in phantom in FIG. -l, as 24.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, I show a modified form of construction in which the body of the device shown as 25, in radially formed from a rod of pliable material. The rod may be shaped into a circular overlapping form, so it may expand in diameter, depending on the number of parts being held in engagement with one another in a clamped fashion. Thus, for example, the rod originates at 26, circles around and overlaps itself at 27. This enables the user to increase the effective diameter of the clamp as necessary.

From the above description, it will become apparent that the device is designed to perform the function for which it is intended. It is simple in construction and may be operated without mechanical skill, or special equipment, and although I have shown a specific construction, I am fully cognizant of the fact that many changes may be made without affecting the operativeness of the device, and I reserve the rights to make such changes without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is:

1. A clamping device for holding clothes, or the like,

said device comprising rod means,

said rod means shaped to have a circular form to surround the clothes being held therein,

retaining means for retaining the clothes in the clamping device during agitation,

said retaining means comprises a plurality of inwardly projecting members, and

said projecting members comprise laterally disposed radial plates.

2. The clamping device of claim 1 wherein said rod means is pliable,

whereby said rod means enables enlargement of the device to place the clothes therein and constriction of the device to retain the clothes therein.

3. The clamping device of claim 2 wherein said retaining means comprises said circular form made by overlapping the ends of the rod means, whereby the diameter of said circular form can be varied by changing the length of the overlap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 971,519 10/1910 Brannen l3246X 1,715,331 5/1929 Richter 132-46 2,924,228 2/1960 McGee l3246 3,073,063 1/1963 Schumm l3246X 3,170,213 2/1965 Thomas 24255RS 3,357,070 12/ 1967 Sloan 24255RS DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner 

